Call for Entries: Breakthrough Junior Challenge

Field of Interests 

• To take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, create a short video (2:00 – two minutes max) to explain a big idea in one of these fields:
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Life Sciences

Funding Information

• One Prize will be awarded to the Winner consisting of: a $250,000 college scholarship and renovations to the Winner’s school valued up to $100,000 for the renovation or addition of a science lab.
• As part of the Prize, the Winner will also elect one teacher who has inspired the Winner in the field of science or mathematics, and such teacher will be awarded $50,000.
• The Competition Sponsor or its designee (as applicable) will:
  • Coordinate the renovation details with the School,
  • Supply a team to work on remodeling,
  • Pay up to $100,000 for all approved expenses associated with the renovation.
  • The total approximate retail value of the Prize is $400,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals between the ages of 13 and 18 may participate.
• You must be 13 years of age by May 1, 2025 to participate in the Competition,
• You cannot be older than 18 years of age (not yet 19) on October 1, 2025.
• If You are a minor, you must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to enter and your parent or legal guardian must agree, on your behalf and on his or her own behalf, to follow and be bound by these rules and warrant that you are eligible to participate in the Competition.

Ineligibility Criteria

• If you reside in any country or region that is subject to comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions or are otherwise an individual with which U.S. persons cannot transact under U.S. law, you are not eligible to enter the contest.
• Previous Winners of the Competition from prior years or similar competitions sponsored by the Competition Sponsor are not eligible to participate in this Competition.

Selection Criteria

• There are four phases of assessment for each qualified Entry, which are listed below:
  • First Phase. Upon submitting Your Entry, qualified Entries will be distributed to other entrants during a Peer-to-Peer review of those Entries. You will be required to review at least five other entries from your peers by September 30, 2025. If You do not complete those reviews, your participation may be terminated, resulting in the disqualification of Your Entry. You may be asked to review and score additional Entries.
  • Second Phase. Each of the First Phase Finalist’s Entries will receive a minimum of five reviews by randomly selected members of an evaluation panel, which consists of experts who are identified on the website (the “Evaluation Panel”). The Evaluation Panel will utilize the same review process for each assigned First Phase Finalist.
  • Third Phase.
    • Popular Vote: Up to 30 videos comprised of the top 2 videos from each of the 7 Geographic Regions and the top scoring videos from the Evaluation Panel review (the “Popular Vote Entries”), will be posted on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook Page and on the Breakthrough Prize YouTube Page (in a randomized order) for a period of 16 days.
    • Regional Champions: Additionally, the top scoring video (combined total of (x) Likes and positive reactions (Love, Haha, Wow) on their Breakthrough Facebook Page and (y) Likes on their Breakthrough YouTube Page) from each of the 7 Geographic Regions will be named a “Regional Champion.”
  • Fourth Phase. The Finalists will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the experts identified on this Website (the “Selection Committee”). The highest scoring “Finalists” from the Selection Committee Review (up to 5) will move to the Fourth Phase based on the Trait Scoring Rubric.

For more information, visit Breakthrough.